How can you fall in love with your enemy?

Synopsis

Kidnapped by the warrior

Tempted by the man…

Captured by the infamous Lord Rhys, a Welsh prince intent on revenge against her family, Viking healer, Helga, must keep her wits about her if she’s to be freed. Easier said than done when she desires him rather than fears him! Helga senses there’s good inside Rhys and feels compelled to reach his heart. First she must make him see there’s more to her than just his enemy…

My review

Helga is the youngest of three sisters. While her sisters are knows as fierce shieldmaidens, Helga feels like she is disappointing her family, as she is not as strong as a warrior, but has other talents, like healing and understanding the people around her. She also believes that there are signs out there, showing us what life has in store of us. Unfortunately, that made some even call her a witch.
One of those signs, told her by the runes, is that a black dragon will appear to be the love of her life.
Little did she expect that Lord Rhys, a Welsh Prince, known as the Black Dragon in Wales, would kidnap her in retaliation when Rhys’ sister disappeared with her bodyguard instead of marrying Halfdan, now happily married Helga’s sister Valda.
Even if Helga should be afraid of Rhys, she also senses the good in him. And while staying at Rhys’ homeland, she understands that there is more to him and his story than she thought. But can she trust her heart to the man who captured her and is a sworn enemy? 

Having read the previous parts of this series, I was very intrigued what Helga’s story would turn out to be.
I dare not to say she is the weakest sister of the three, but she clearly isn’t a fighter and has her focus on other things. 

And while her other talents are for sure admirable and perhaps even more helpful, I could understand why she sees herself as a disappointment. Having a mother and two sisters who are just so fierce and strong, while you are not, well, it’s understandable to have a lower self – esteem, even if your family loves you deeply. 

But I just wished Helga to see what we as a reader could see so clearly, and that is how amazing she just is by being herself… so what if you are not a fierce warrior? Helga’s knowledge, patience and understanding brought her so much more that anything else would have…
It’s obvious that she is a compassionate, kind, gentle person, ready to help out however she can, whoever she can. She sees behind the masks people put on, and understands them on a level no-one else could. 

And even if I am not the kind of person who believes that dreams can reveal the truth, or that there are signs out there, I was very curious to see whatever Helga would see and how it would turn out to be in reality. 

From what we have know  in the previous books (which I strongly suggest to read!), it was easy, almost mandatory to see Rhys as the worst kind of enemy. Who would ever think to capture just a kind person like Helga?
But of course, Rhys turned out to be nothing like we initially thought he would be like! What was I ever thinking, seeing him as a bad guy! 

First of all, it’s the way he treats Helga. While she is obviously his captive, he let’s his people know her as a guest. And when he understands her feelings of desperation and uselessness, he allows her to roam around, making her feel more at home and discover his world. 

And then when we know his own tale, well, even if I don’t agree with his actions, I could understand where he was coming from. And I admired his sense of duty and responsibility. He is the kind of person who would give up on his desires and own happiness, if that means that his people would gain from his sacrifices. 

I loved how this story was filled with reciprocity. Because thanks to Rhys, Helga starts to see whatever she thought as a weakness, as her strength. And seeing her bloom into a confident young woman was wonderful to read.
And thanks to Helga’s empathy, Rhys understand that he too deserves to be happy and that being happy isn’t at cost of the happiness of others. 

This was a wonderful, perfect ending of a series that captivated my from the first book. And Helga’s story was the one that I was the most eager to discover, it was also the one that I liked the most, as Helga was perhaps the most recognizable, relatable character from all the sisters. Because let’s be honest, we aren’t all fierce warriors, but there is nothing wrong with that!

When loving two men…

Synopsis

The one that she wants…

Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate…

The one that she needs…

Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he’s better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.

The one that got away…

Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin’s help, everything changes.  Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…

Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?

My review

Erin is married to Greg for several years. While things didn’t always go that easily, Erin knows that Greg is the man she can always count on. Even when they just met, Greg stood by her side and even loving her from a distance while Erin was in a relationship with Adam. But his patience got rewarded as now they are happily together.
But when Adam resurfaces, Greg is not the only one feeling insecure. Because Erin always felt that Adam was The One, even if in the end he broke her heart. While Adam needs Erin’s help, Erin starts to question herself about her own feelings… 

I have to be honest, from the blurb of this story, I didn’t think that I would like Erin a lot. However, I knew that this author writes emotional rollercoaster and that I shouldn’t be fooled by the too short synopsis.
And I was glad I followed my gut feeling, because this book turned out to be so much more than expected and way deeper too. 

It was a great idea of Clare to write two different timelines, so that the reader can better understand the dynamics and the evolutions of not only Erin, but also of Greg and Adam. 

Although it saddened me to read how the love story of Erin and Adam ended in heartbreak for Erin, it was also comforting knowing that Erin would always have Greg by her side, offering her always a shoulder to cry on. And seeing how that strong friendship between them turned into love and marriage felt like the right direction for both characters. 

With Greg being so supportive and reliable, I couldn’t comprehend why Erin would even be tempted by the return of Adam. But obviously the author would make it difficult not only for Erin but also for us to pick a side, as not everything is as black or white as expected. 

While I initially disliked Adam for his past behaviour, his present broke my heart. I can only imagine the hardships he has been going through and is still facing. He obviously made mistakes in the past, but that doesn’t mean he deserves his current situation.
So seeing how compassionate Erin was, and despite everything still ready to help him, warmed my hear. 

Unfortunately Greg went to other direction… It took him a long time to get him and Erin where they are now, his path took him into a downward spiral (no spoilers here, you’ll just have to read the book!). And while I also know he cannot be blamed for the full 100% for the situation he is in, the desperation of trying to hold onto Erin, coming with completely the wrong solutions, made it difficult to keep on liking him. 

The more I was reading this story, the more difficult it was to just pick a side. And I started to understand Erin’s position. Especially when she learns new information about her own mother’s past and learns that her mother understand Erin better than Erin ever thought. 

As a reader, you know that there will be heartbreak anyhow. No matter what Erin decides to do, there is always someone getting hurt. But I have to say, Clare made the right decision here with her ending. It’s the perfect ending letting us see that neither the past or the present can show what the right decision is for us. But that our future is in our hands only and that we have to choose what is best for us and not what is best for others…

Housemates that don’t get along…

Synopsis

Two reluctant housemates. One question: Is this your place or mine…?

When Serena is kicked out of her flat, an offer from her friend, Taylor, to house sit for her while she and her husband go travelling could not be better timing. But unfortunately for Serena she’s not the only one to have received this offer…

Enter Ziggy: arrogant, messy (and annoyingly handsome) musician, and friend of Taylor’s husband. Living with him is far from ideal, especially when he claims the best room, has loud parties – and the least said about his kitchen manner the better…

There’s just one solution for Serena – drive him out of the house by being twice as difficult to live with than he is! But Ziggy knows Serena’s game and as war ensues between them, being forced together under one roof may result in some unexpected consequences…

My review

Serena is shocked when she is suddenly kicked out of her flat. With having literally no place to stay, she counts herself lucky when her friend Taylor tells Serena that she and her husband go travelling and need someone to house sit their home.
If only Taylor’s husband didn’t make the offer to his friend Ziggy…
Now Serena and Ziggy are house sitting together, but things aren’t as great as they seem. Especially as Ziggy has claimed the bigger and better room, has loud parties and isn’t keen on cleaning.
But Serena has a plan, driving Ziggy crazy and out of the house by being more annoying than him. But Ziggy won’t let him chase away that easily and a war between housemates starts.
And between Serena discovering a despicable truth about her boyfriend, and being flabbergasted by the unknown side of her boss, she also may see that living together with Ziggy may take an unexpected turn. 

I just have to start by saying how much I laughed while reading this marvellous story by an author I know that is just amazing!
Having read several of her books, I wouldn’t think she would be able to surprise me anymore, but she did it again.  

Getting to know Serena was giving me opposite feelings. Not because she isn’t a likeable person, but just because what she has been through in the past and what she has recently endured. And that made me feel so sad for her, because it’s easy to see how lovable she actually really is. And seeing her without a home after the shocking passing of her boss Diana, felt unjust… Serena deserved to be in her happy place, in her flat and working at the lovely tea room.
And for sure she deserves a better boyfriend! 

So while all the above made me pity her, I also admired her. Because she is adamant on doing the right thing whatever concerns the boyfriend, but also how she won’t let walk over her by Diana’s selfish, spoilt, horrible children, was very admirable.
And reading how she starts plotting on chasing Ziggy away, well, that for sure put a smile on my face! 

And talking about smiles on my face… I was certainly glad that at certain passages I wasn’t in a public space, because people wouldn’t understand why I would be laughing out loud! I never saw it coming what Diana left Serena! And while Serena was discovering that place, well, it almost gave me red cheeks too! It only shows that we don’t always know someone completely! What a wonderful, delightful twist this was! Well done Portia! 😊 

I have to say, if I were living with Ziggy, I would be terribly annoyed too with him! His behaviour initially was so frustrating, I would have slapped him with great joy!
But the more time Serena spent with him, the more we saw the real Ziggy emerge. And the real Ziggy is kind, generous, and just a great friend. 

This story was a delight to read, it was easily written, filled with many funny moments, and while the characters were frustrated, I found myself laughing out loud.
Portia MacIntosh had the difficult task to fulfil my extreme high expectations, but with this funny, with unexpected twists, lovable main characters and amazing side character, she even exceeded those expectations! Although now the expectations will only be even more higher, so don’t start letting me down now! 😊

The things that can happen in just one day…

Synopsis

One day, five lives, but whose hearts will be broken by nightfall?

It started like any other day in the picturesque village of Weirbridge.

Tress Walker waved her perfect husband Max off to work, with no idea that she was about to go into labour with their first child. And completely unaware that when she tried to track Max down, he wouldn’t be where he was supposed to be.

At the same time, Max’s best friend Noah Clark said goodbye to his wife, Anya, blissfully oblivious that he would soon discover the woman he adored had been lying to him for years.

And living alongside the two couples, their recently widowed friend, Nancy Jenkins, is getting ready to meet Eddie, her first true love at a school reunion. Will Nancy have the chance to rekindle an old flame, or will she choose to stay by Tress’s side when she needs her most?

One Day with You – two fateful goodbyes, two unexpected hellos, and 24 hours that change everything.

My review

Max and Noah have been best friends for years. Max is happily married to Tress, who is heavily pregnant with their first child. And Noah still absolutely adores his own wife Anya, after all these years.
But while everyone expects life to go its usual way, nobody sees it coming that secrets will come out that will devastate each and every one of them. And that on the same day that Tress goes into labour.
And then there is neighbour Nancy Jenkins, a rock for both couples, who is ready to meet Eddie, her first true love and the one that got away… Will that old flame spark again? Or will Nancy be where she is needed, by Tress’ side and not where she wants to be, dancing with Eddie?

I have to admit that I was wrong, when I started to read this book. I was questioning (just a little bit though!) how this author would manage to write a wonderful story that just takes place in one day.
Would a good story need more time to really touch its readers, to understand the characters?
But what was I thinking, questioning this amazing author???? Because I KNEW her ability to write compelling stories! 

First of all, I liked it how Noah and Max have been best friend for ages. It always warms my heart to see how friendships can stand the test of time. And seeing that Noah and Max were vey close despite their personal differences, made it even sweeter for me. 

No matter how different their lives went, with Noah being marred to Anya for years while Max was known in the past for not doing long relationships and has not been married to Tress that long, their friendship for sure has been the one certainty in their lives. 

This one day not only turns out to be a turning point of both couples, but it is also a heart – breaking one, also for the reader.
And for me, it felt the worse kind of betrayal that could be taking place…
When you start this book, you already have a hunch of what secrets may be revealed. At least, that was in my case.
And even if these are fictional characters, my heart broke when the truth came out. And not only the truth but the depth of betrayal… 

Can I just say that in my humble opinion, Noah deserves a statue… Despite his discovery, he shows what a good friend he is, especially towards Tress. While Tress is in labour, Noah stand by her side despite his own heartbreak. He is the kind of person who puts his own pain and struggles aside to help whoever is in need of his help. 

While reading, I felt the whole experience as a rollercoaster. Every kind of emotion, it’s all there. Obviously, this book made my own feelings surface very strong. I absolutely loved Noah and Tress, while my feelings for Max and Anya were the complete opposite.  
It made me realize that people don’t always do the right thing. And the secrets made me ask the same question time over time: Just how could you do that to your beloved ones???? 

Luckily, to lighten the sometimes heavy mood, we have Nancy to brighten it all up. She is the kind of neighbour everyone should have. Although that wouldn’t do her justice, as she is so much more than just a neighbour. She is everyone’s friend and ready to help out in her own unique yet marvellous way. Her story may not be the protagonist, but I had my fingers crossed that her meeting with Eddie may be exactly what she expected. But also in this case, Shari Low surprised us and added a twist, perhaps even making Nancy’s little story even better! 

I feel like this book is not to be taken too lightly, as there are many things happening in it that unfortunately also happen in real life. It makes the reader think about what kind of person they want to be. Do they want to be like Noah and Tress, the best kind of man you can imagine and a woman stronger than she may seem like? Or is their path just like Max and Anya, knowing what they are doing is wrong, but not being able to let go? 

Even with the heavy subjects, and the tissues I shred, I found it impossible to lay it aside and I just had the urgency to keep reading until the finish!

An unexpected wife, an unexpected turn

Synopsis

The laird’s bridal bid…

Is love too high a price to pay?

When new laird, Ewan Stewart, comes across a wife for sale at a market, he outbids everyone to rescue her. He never intended for Catriona to become his bride, but a convenient marriage could secure his clan’s future and her freedom. They agree that their arrangement must stay free of love, yet Catriona’s bravery and fire intrigue him. Can Ewan resist falling for his wife—the one rule he must not break?

My review

Ewan Stewart has just recently become laird. He is still trying to find his own way to be laird, but feels the pressure of the Elders. Especially as they want him to marry to secure his clan’s future. However, he does not want to rush into a marriage, with him believing that love will only end in hurt. But when he comes across a wife for sale at a market, inexplicably he feels the rush to rescue her. And perhaps this convenient marriage to Catriona may be the perfect answer. Catriona agrees to the arrangement and to keep everything free of love. But the more Catriona shows her strength and fire, the more Ewan is attracted to her… will the arrangement stand? Or will their attraction and feelings prevail? 

This may seem like an easy, fun book to read, but the more I got to know the characters, the more I sensed that this was more than the typical Highlander Romance. 

First of all, we have a heroine who despite what she has been through lately, is a strong woman, fighting for her freedom. And her fierceness is something I admired, especially after learning how her past is a mystery to her.
Catriona made the best of how the cards had turned for her. No matter how much she had endured, each event she turned into a life lesson, making her realize that the most important was for her was to gain her freedom. 

But she also has good people skills. She sees how people truly are within the blink of an eye, and easily understands the dynamic between people. And that for sure came in handy for Ewan and his wish to be a good laird. 

It’s crystal-clear that Ewan is one of the good guys. Not everyone would buy a woman at a market, but he sees that Catriona is a victim, and he wants to help her. He also shows his great character in wanting to be a good laird, not too tyrannical but also not too soft. And we see him struggling finding not only the right balance, but also showing the clan that he is worthy of being their Laird. And having endured a previous heart – break made the readers understand why Ewan choses to refuse to fall in love again.  

I loved reading how these two characters started to warm towards each other, despite their clear arrangement of not letting any feelings grow. Of course that plan was doomed to fail! And seeing how their own strength strengthened each other was amazing. 

The author surprised with a twist that I didn’t see coming. And while I was glad that a few questions got answered, it was also frustrating to see how this beloved couple were not nearly reaching their happy end… 

This is a part of a series, but can be perfectly be read as a standalone. But having read the previous book, it would help to immediately like a few side characters, who come back in this story after having had their own tale to tell.
For me, this was the best story of the series, as I felt that the roles were switched, as we have a strong female character, wanting nothing more than just to be free to do how she pleases. And then we have a male character, who is obviously also strong, but is still trying to find his own feet, trying to be himself but not showing any weakness. 

Maybe, my only point of criticism (if we can call it like that) was that I had to consult my good friend Google to figure out the amount that Catriona was sold for. I did not have a clue if that guinea was a big amount or not! 😊  

This was a lovely story, with that little more, making it more exiting for the readers to keep turning the pages!

Lilo Moore, douze points!

Synopsis

The song contest is hotting up, on and off the stage!

Rose writes twee pop, smiles a lot, and believes in magic and rainbows. When the cheesy love song she wrote is chosen for the European Song Contest, her luck seems to be turning around – especially when a chance encounter leads to the hottest one-night stand of her life. It’s almost too bad she’ll never see him again.
But then Rose discovers it wasn’t a chance encounter. The hot German DJ with the sexy deep voice is her rival for song contest glory.
Grumpy Emil is incredibly talented and the song he spins with his sister could be a winner, even if he doesn’t appreciate the playful spirit of the contest. As the continent falls in love with Rose and Emil’s competitive banter on social media, they must hide their history from the press or risk losing credibility – and a future songwriting career.
With an anonymous gossip out to ridicule the colourful contestants and a plot to undermine European public broadcasting bubbling under the shiny surface, Rose must be strong in the face of criticism and stand up for everything the contest means to her.
If this Canadian girl can save the contest, maybe she can believe that her feelings for Emil are the real deal.

My review

Canadian Rose has her dream come true: her song has been selected as the British entry for the European Song Contest!
She feels that it’s finally her time, especially after the most amazing one – night – stand with Emil.
However not much later she realizes that Emil is not just someone, but he is the entry for Germany, together with his sister. And his act may be the winning one.
Emil is everything that Rose is not. Where Rose is sunshine and rainbows, Emil is grumpy and wary. Yet Rose cannot stop bantering Emil on social media, while also hiding their brief history together.
But there are more darks clouds surrounding the Contest, and it’s up to Rose to save the Contest, and think about her feelings for Emil… 

So, there are a few thing sacred to me… Like never putting up a Christmas tree before Sinterklaas has come, or any occasion, how ridiculous it may be, is a great reason to eat cake. And those three special days where Eurovision is on.
Yes, I am the kind of person that watches both semi – finals, the final and even afterwards keeps listening to all the songs I loved on Spotify (and, yes, I still listen to last year’s songs now!). Especially now that it’s again more about the song and the act, and not as much about neighbourly favouritism.  

Thus it makes perfect sense to read a book about a Contest that I adore! And I can proudly say that I D – E – V – O – U – R – E – D this book!
The author grasped perfectly what the Contest is about, and even added some great drama in it. 

If I would ever be so lucky to be part of the whole concept of the Contest, I would expect it to be just as described in this wonderful story.
I not only felt the sense of a close community in it, but it was more one big (sometimes not so) happy family. All the contestants were there to enjoy the moment, absorb the magic of the whole event, and that sparked from each page. And even the drama that surrounded the event was something I could actually see happening for real (although I really hope it won’t!!!) 

And Rose is just the perfect character. I think that if I were in the Contest, I would be the Rose of the gang. She is just a happy, joyful, warm character. She loves every other contestant, and tries to befriend them all. But she also respects them. And I loved it how she ‘tributes’ each entry on her own ‘Rose-esque’ way. 

We also see a growth in Rose the more the story evolves. Because Rose realizes that not everyone always has the best intentions. And she is determined to find out who the saboteur is, to protect who and what she loves.
She is also realizing how deep her feelings are and how quickly they are growing. And she slowly learns that yes, love is worth the risk and yes, she deserves to be completely loved too! 

And the sparks that fly between her and Emil, pfeew! While at the start I didn’t really like her behaviour by not giving Emil her real number, I somehow understood her too. Sometimes it’s better to cut all ties and not getting a bigger disappointment later.
But what I loved even more was how despite her constant online teasing, in real life they just couldn’t keep their hands off each other! And that while they couldn’t be more different. These two lovely people show us that opposites absolutely attract! 

It would be easy to just see Emil as a grumpy man, but the more I got to learn him, the more I started to fall in love with him myself! He has his reasons for seeing things not as amazing as Rose does. And then there is his protectiveness towards his sister Daisy, that just turned me into a complete a puddle!  

Now that I addressed Daisy, I just have to say how much I admired her strength and her courage. It was not easy what she has been through, but her resilience and how she turned her situation into something that works for her, just respect! 

This story is perfect for the lovers of Eurovision, but also for those who don’t. it’s the perfect occasion for people who don’t actual follow it, to understand the magic around this wonderful event. And the author managed marvellously to capture all the aspects of the event, but also major subjects that matter in the real world. 

I fell in love with every bit of this story and its characters, I just finished it one long session, regretting nothing at all, having a big smile on my face with each page!

Well, I know what I want to read!

Synopsis

Meet Steph Barnacle, an English teacher at a private school, married to Dan. Her son has just left for university, her life is feeling a bit stale … and something weird is going on with the skin on her neck. And then Charles Kurmudge, the man she’s never forgotten, walks back into her world.

Charles’s life has blown up spectacularly – he’s lost his job, his house and his marriage. Determined to get back on track, he’s changed career. He’ll now be working for Steph, whose heart he broke over twenty years ago. He still finds her very attractive. What a shame she’s married.

Her husband, Dan, knows he loves Steph more than she loves him. And now that Charles is back in his wife’s orbit, he’s worried about their marriage. But surely Steph wouldn’t dream of leaving him for Charles, who’d treated her so badly … would she?

Can Steph resist her first love? Or will she give him a second chance?

Publication Date: 3rd February

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSDPGWMD

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BSDPGWMD/

About the author

Clare Hawken was born in Zambia and has lived in England, France and Australia. She now lives in Wiltshire with her family and a stubborn springer spaniel. She writes about families, relationships, and the blind spots, mistakes and mishaps that can change life in a heartbeat. Apart from writing, she enjoys reading voraciously across a wide range of genres; other people’s gardening efforts; and long walks, if she can persuade the dog to come with her.

Social Media Links –

https://twitter.com/clarehawken

https://www.instagram.com/clarehawken/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069410435467
clarehawken.com

The cover

The power of lavender…

Synopsis

With nowhere else to go, Harriet Colgan has returned to the sleepy village of Cranfield to sell her beloved aunt and uncle’s cottage, the only place she ever called home.

When she arrives at Lavender Cottage, Harriet discovers plans to replace the beautiful lavender fields, her uncle’s pride and joy, with an industrial warehouse.

With time on her hands, she realises she must fight to protect her family’s legacy and the village of Cranfield as well.

Workaholic businessman Joe Randall was expecting an easy purchase of the lavender fields. But suddenly his quiet life is disrupted by protests from angry locals, organised by Harriet.

Can Harriet show Joe that there’s more to life than just business? And can Joe change his mind and help Harriet save the lavender fields?

Over a long, hot summer, and with the help of a stray dog, perhaps Harriet and Joe can find their way home too.

My review

After being forced to close her beauty salon in London, Harriet Colgan has no other option to return to Lavender Cottage, the place she inherited from her beloved aunt and uncle in Cranfield.
Despite it being the only place she ever felt at home, her initial plan is to sell the place as soon as possible, as she needs the money.
But when she discovers that there are plans to replace the lavender fields that her uncle has taken care of, by building an industrial warehouse, Harriet is determined to fight to protect not only her family’s legacy, but also the village of Cranfield.
And that is not something businessman Joe Randall expected, as the purchase of the fields would have been an easy purchase.
Will Harriet succeed in saving the lavender fields and show Joe the benefits of not only the wonderful fields, but also the beauty of Cranfield? Or is her fight doomed to fail? And how can there be an attraction between enemies? 

Alison Sherlock absolutely knows how to captivate her readers! With something as simple as a lavender field, she has written a compelling story not only about retuning home and fighting for the right cause, but also about finding a home, and finding peace. 

While reading, I felt so sorry for Harriet, as her own family just doesn’t seem to understand her. Even if she is a member of the family, she doesn’t fit in. Her parents and siblings are successful in whatever they do, and have an ‘important’ job, while Harriet is a ‘simple’ beautician. (For the record, absolutely nothing wrong with being a beautician, I just want to make clear that Harriet is not like the rest of the family!).
Yet she wants her parents to be proud of her, even if that means that she had to open a salon in London where she cannot afford the rent. 

It broke my hear to see her return to Cranfield, where she always felt at home, only to be faced with the absence of the only people who accepted her just the way she was.
I felt her pain every time she saw something specific in the cottage, remembering all the happy moments she has there. 

Yet I also admired her fire… because it would have been easy to just walk away from Cranfield, and making the inhabitants face their problems on their own. But that is not who Harriet is. The lavender fields are important to her, and she will protect them anyway she can! 

And seeing how the community was initially wary of her actions, it was marvellous to see how slowly they all started to stand by Harriet, fighting against the injustice. 

Somehow I think that the ‘powers’ of lavender, which are made clear throughout the story, also made sure that Joe wasn’t the big villain in this book.
First of all, it was nice to see which uses lavender has, I for sure have expanded my knowledge about them! 

But the calming effect of the flowers also had an impact on Joe.
Joe may seem as a strict businessman, but his own tale saddened me and I wished that he could find the courage and the strength to do the right thing and also put the hurtful past behind him.
The more I got to know Joe, I could see that he was being held back by what happened in the past. And reading how he couldn’t do something as easy as dancing, broke my heart… 

Seeing Harriet fighting together with the community against the injustice and seeing how Joe is also putting his weight into it (at the right side obviously) was lovely to read. And all the side characters, even those with a not so great reputation but with their heart at the right place, trying to change the situation and their personal situation too, show again what a close community can do. Because no matter how dire they situation may be, a solution may be found in the most unexpected ways. 

This was a marvellous story, and a great start of a brand new series. It was heart – warming, sweet and at moments I could practically smell the lavender while reading, and I could sense its maybe underestimated powers! The characters learned themselves and showed us that home is where our heart is and I cannot wait to return to this beautiful place!

Finding yourself in the place where you need to be

Synopsis

Sometimes, the Last Place You Intended to Go is Exactly Where You Need to Be.

When 26-year-old Daisy’s life in London comes crashing down around her, the only thing she can think of is getting away – far away. That’s how she found herself stumbling off a train in England’s picturesque Peak District – 150 miles from home, with no idea why she’d gone there and even less idea how she intended to get home.

As Daisy explores the gorgeous village of Upper Finlay, she glimpses the possibility of a different life. The Derbyshire Dales offer up new friends, new opportunities, and a distractingly dishy object of attraction in the form of local bookstore owner Alex (and his bumbling Great Dane.) When Daisy discovers Alex’s business is in trouble she steps in to save the day.

But London’s Calling – literally. The life Daisy ran away from is calling her back. Why then, is she so reluctant to heed its call?

Daisy’s got a decision to make: Will she play it safe, and return to what she knew? Or is she brave enough to take a leap of faith and create a bold, new life for herself in the last place she’d ever expected?

Daisy Does it Herself is a sweet, uplifting romantic comedy about the power of self-confidence, friendship and of course love! Fans of warm and witty romantic comedies with a guaranteed happily-ever-after will be entranced.

My review

Daisy believes that this day will turn out great. She has a meeting with her boss and she truly feels that she will get the promotion that she deserves, even if she cannot present the right degree. But what was supposed to be a great day, turned quickly into a nightmare, as she finds herself without a job and she finds her boyfriend Phil in a compromising situation…
Wanting to get away as far as possible, Daisy finds herself suddenly in the village of Upper Finlay. And with the help of local bookstore owner Alex, she finds new friends, new opportunities and plenty of time to think about her own future. A future that perhaps will keep her in Upper Finlay? Especially when she learns that Alex’ business is in trouble and maybe Daisy can find the solution.
But what when London, and Phil call her back? Will she return back to the hectic of London and to Phil? Or is her place in Upper Finlay? 

I truly hate it when a nice character has the most terrible day in the world. Especially when she has absolutely nothing to blame!
Just like Daisy, she has shown her worth at her job, and instead of being grateful, her boss just dismisses her with the lamest of excuses.
And if that isn’t bad enough already, she finds her boyfriend Phil in the arms of another woman! Can you blame her for wanting to run away as far as possible? 

In normal circumstances (well, whatever you call normal…), someone in this situation would to her family or friends. Well, I was left flabbergasted by the reaction of Daisy’s mother! How can a mother act that way? Instead of standing by Daisy’s side, she acts like it’s all Daisy’s fault… the audacity.
And it broke my heart to realize how few friends Daisy has she can actually rely on, something also to blame Phil… 

But of all the places Daisy could find herself stranded, Upper Finlay was just perfection! Not only because the kindness of Alex, but the whole community! It felt like a warm place (figuratively speaking 😊) where anyone in need of help could just find it there. 

And Alex is just the kindest man in the world. Not everybody (excluding the inhabitants of Upper Finlay) would open their place to a stranger and offer more than just a meal. It made me believe again in the goodness of people. 

I could perfectly understand the attraction between Daisy and Alex. But I had also great respect for them. It would have been easy to just give in to that attraction, but that would have also been the wrong thing to do, as Daisy was officially still with Phil, and she has planned to return to London.

Daisy ending up in Upper Finlay may have been the best thing that could happen to her, because slowly she starts to believe in herself again. It was great to see how her confidence grew, and how that confidence made her confident that she could help out with the problems of Alex’ bookstore. And it shows us also the kind of friend Daisy is. Because she would do anything to help out a friend, even if that means to do something she isn’t sure of herself. 

Don’t expect in this story a lot of ‘action’, as the characters never cross that line. But that doesn’t mean that sparks don’t fly around. Because they do for sure! 

I found myself enthralled with Daisy’s tale, on her journey to find herself, her self – confidence but also trying to understand where her future may be. It’s easy to stick to what you know, but is it the right decision? Or is the right decision to take a step into the unknown, not knowing where it will take you, but it may be the perfect thing for you?

To find love as a New Year’s Resolution

Synopsis

A Hilarious and Heartening Take on the Pitfalls of Modern Dating

As the clock strikes midnight over a disastrous New Year’s Eve and happy couples celebrate all around her, Kate makes a resolution, hastily scrawled on the back of a napkin, that next New Year’s Eve she will have found someone of her own to kiss.

But when you’re a forty-something cat-mom who’d rather binge Netflix than brave the singles scene, finding someone to kiss turns out to be harder than it sounds. Kate is totally unprepared for navigating hook-up apps, speed-dating, and sliding into somebody’s DMs.

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, Kate seems further than ever from reaching her goal. As relationships crumble around her and dark long-kept secrets spill out, could Kate’s fixation on her quest cause her to let true love slip through her fingers forever? 

Someone to Kiss is a wry and witty romantic comedy, tackling serious issues with real heart. The perfect new read for fans of Beth O’Leary, Jennier Weiner and JoJo Moyes.

My review

Surrounded by happy couples on New Year’s Eve, Kate makes a slightly drunk resolution to find someone to kiss for next New Year’s Eve. And to make it more binding, she has written it down on a napkin.
But finding that someone is easier said than done, especially as Kate is the kind of person who prefers a Netflix evening over an evening out. And for sure she isn’t ready for the dating scene, filled with dating apps, not so nice DM’s and speed dating.
With the expertise of her best friend Julie, Kate is on a mission. But being so focused, could it be that Kate is not seeing that her true love is closer than she thinks? And with that same focus, she is also not seeing what is happening around her, making her being shocked when dark secrets are being revealed… 

I like it when a character decides to make a New Year’s resolution that will, in the end, make her find love.
And having a character that in many cases is similar to me, makes it easier to keep turning the pages. 

I could absolutely understand Kate in so many aspects. Being on her own, wanting to find that special one, is something many people could relate to. But the fact that Kate prefers a nice evening in instead of just going out, is something I agree on completely. Also the fact that she isn’t the kind of woman that has a great confidence and is more ‘prey’ than ‘predator’, resembles in my own character. 

Of course, seeing her taking those scary steps into the dating scene, was funny to read about! I felt her being uncomfortable, wanting to escape but also being determined to stay at the same time. And seeing how some events turn into disasters, made me laugh and also be glad it was Kate and not me!  

And as Kate’s best friend Julie is just everything Kate is not, it was easy to understand Kate’s lower self – esteem, and copying (and absolutely failing) Julie’s behaviour.
And while it was funny to read about it, I found it also a bit sad at the same time. Because a grown woman should always be able to be who she really is, and not trying to be someone else…
Also knowing how little she can take her alcohol, yet keeps on drinking, trying to be fun, made me think Kate should know better…
But that is all part of the process of growing and finding Love… 

While the focus is definitely on Kate, getting to know Julie and her brother Ben was a nice diversion. Because it only shows that everyone, no matter how confident and strong they may seem, has demons to face. And some demons may be bigger than we think… 

I enjoyed reading this book, even if I felt that towards the end, things were a bit rushed. I knew how I wanted the story to end, and when the author took an apparent different road, I wasn’t ecstatic, but I could understand her motivations. So when another twist and turn was made, it felt like my knowledge of some characters were just deleted and were actually not who we thought they were. 

But that kind of rushed ending didn’t take away the joy and fun I had while reading Kate’s story. I laughed a lot, but I also felt a connection with Kate, and hoped that she could find her real prince between all the frogs in the world of dating.